Pupils taking cocaine, spice and ketamine, say teachers

Use of drugs, alcohol and gambling apps contributing to rise in abusive and violent behaviour in schools, warns union

- ANDY GREGORY

Teachers are aware of pupils using drugs such as cocaine, ketamine and spice, including on school premises, a new survey has found.

Alcohol, nicotine pouches and nitrous oxide are also being consumed within schools by pupils, according to the survey of 4,000 teachers - with access to gambling apps and websites also a problem in some schools.

This use of drugs, alcohol and gambling apps is contributing to a rise in disruptive, violent and abusive behaviour in schools, warned the NASUWT teachers' union, which carried out the survey - while urging greater government action to help tackle the issue.

Nearly one in five teachers are aware of pupils smoking cannabis on school grounds, the survey found, rising to 57 per cent outside of school. Close to one in 10 teachers - mostly working in schools, post-16 and further education settings - were concerned about pupils smoking the synthetic cannabinoid known as spice while on the premises, rising to 24 per cent outside of school.